Opera Scotland

Barbiere di Siviglia 1961Sadler's Wells Opera

A second visit to Scotland for this successful 1960 production (which would continue in repertoire in London for nearly twenty years). Edinburgh was seeing it for the first time, and Glasgow and Dundee for the second time in six months. This was unusual for Glasgow, and for Dundee unique – but the Sadler’s Wells management had heard that the Gaumont was to close for conversion to widescreen cinema – no more stage or proscenium, therefore no more tours – and decided to fit in another visit, since Dundee had rapidly established itself as a very successful touring venue for the company. Future visits to Scotland would be restricted to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Unusually, this opera would also feature in the 1960 Edinburgh Festival programme, in a new staging not yet seen in London. This was part of a now rare Scottish visit by the company from Covent Garden.